Refrigerating apparatus



Ota 31, 1933. E. E. ALLYNE 1,932,877

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS y j INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1933. E. E.ALLYNE I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec.

24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVNTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 31, 1933REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Edmund E. Allyne, Shaker Heights, OhioApplication December 24, 1931 Serial No. 583,061

9 Claims.

The invention disclosed in this application relates to refrigeratingapparatus of the absorption type.

One object of the invention is to provide an evaporator which isthoroughly heat insulated by a vacuum casing except for a small heattransfer portion which extends through the vacuum casing and isconnected to any suitable freezing unitstructure, as for example a brinetank having a socket for the exposed evaporator portion and a cube traysupport in heat transfer relation with the brine tank.

A further object of the invention is to improve absorption refrigeratingapparatus by providing the refrigerating compartment with a dome forreceiving the evaporator and a freezing unit in limited heat transferrelation with the evaporator, and a housing or casing enclosing theevaporator and freezing unit and provided with an adjustablethermostatic control means for regulating the circulation of air fromthe refrigerating compartment through the casing about the freezing unitand dome, thereby controlling the temperature of the refrigeratingcompartment.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an absorptionrefrigerating circuit of the stillevaporator-condenser type with a drainconnected at its upper end, by a gooseneck arrangement, to the bottom ofthe evaporator and at its lower end connected in the circuit so as to besealed by still liquor at the beginning of the heating cycle, togetherwith a hot spot means effective upon the drain to stop its operationafter an initial useful drain. The hot spot arrangement in this casepreferably is produced by physically connecting a portion of the drainto a pipe of the circuit, such as the hairpin loop leading from thestill, which becomes heated after the heatingl cycle has progressedtoward condensing pressure.

Another feature of the invention lies in the specific form of condenserand impounded water tank.

Still another feature is the provision of suitable heat transfer meansbetween the rectifier and the cooling medium in the upper part of thewater tank whereby the rectifier is cooled during the beginning of theheating period when cooling is essential and is afterwards retarded inits cooling effect by the rise in temperature of the medium in the tank.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a suitabledrain for the water tank so that running water may be supplied to it forcooling purposes, and the arrangement of the water drain in cooling nsof the loop whereby its cooling effect may be enhanced by running waterwhen subjected to critical or extreme high surrounding temperatures.

A further feature is the provision of a heat transfer arrangementbetween the water pipe and the water at the top of the water tank.

Still another feature-of the invention is the control of running waterto the impounded water tank by the provision of thermally controlledvalve means in supply with the thermostat or other thermal device in theupper strata. of the cooling medium in the tank.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be brought out inthe following description, drawings and claims. A

Referring to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the apparatus;Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the casing and showing parts inelevation; Fig. 3 is a mutilated view of the water 75 tank broken awayshowing the thermostatically controlled water supply valve; Fig. 4 is avertical section showingthe heat dome, evaporator and freezing unit andits enclosing casing together with the control therefor; Fig. 5 is a topplan view 3o with parts in section and b roken away; Fig. 6 is anenlarged vertical section through the upper part of the water tank; Fig.'7 is a similar view taken near the other end; and Fig. 8 is a detailView showing the damper control.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cabinet comprises a front 1having an upper refrigerating compartment opening and door 2 and a lowerapparatus compartment opening and door 3. This front is connected tosuitable side walls 4 of greater depth than the insulated refrigeratingcompartment, as will appear. These side walls and front are mounted upona suitable open base frame, generally indicated at 5. Mounted in theforward upper portion of the cabinet thus formed is the outer shell 6 ofthe refrigerating compartment .which extends to the top of the cabinetand its bottom 7 is spaced from the lower frame 5 to provide anapparatus chamber or compartment 3; Mounted within and spaced 100 fromthis outer shell 6 is an inner shell 9 with the space between filledwith suitable insulation 10. This inner shell has a, ceiling 11, whichis generally slightly higher than the top of the door and is providedwith an upwardly extendmgneat coi- 10s lecting dome casing 12 normallyin communication with the refrigerating chamber. This dome casing has asuitable top 13 provided with a central longitudinal passageway orchannel 14 for the circuit pipes which enter at the back and lnclinedownwardly to the front from the rear. The top of the inner shell, thedome casing and the top 13 are all encased in suitable insulation, as at15, a top layer 16 extending over the upper member or top 13. Therefrigerating compartment being less in overall depth than the front torear dimension of the cabinet leaves a rear vertical flue channelcommunicating with the apparatus compartment 8. This flue is utilized tocarry away the heat from the still and to containsome of the pieces ofapparatus and connections and also house the water tank and maincondenser. It is separated into two flues, 17 a main flue for receivingthe rectier, water tank, condenser and like parts, and the other anauxiliary flue 13 for leading away the products of combustion from thestill and also for housing the hairpin loop and trap. It also houses thehot spot mechanism, as will appear.

Mounted upon the open bottomed frame 5 is a loop 19 connected to a waterleg 20 and a gas and water leg 21 leading to and supporting a still 22.This loop is provided with a multiplicity of ns 23 arranged as a groupabove the opening in the open frame 5. In this way the loop is cooled bythe rush of air up through the opening in the frame 5. The still isarranged, as shown, to one side and at the back of the apparatuscompartment 8 as nearly adjacent as possible the auxiliary flue 18.Extending from the still up this flue 18 is the up leg 24 of a hairpinloop including an upper return bend 25 and a down leg 26 extending downand entering the top of a spill pot 27. Extending from the bottom ofthis spill pot is a trap pipe 28 extending down to a point near thebottom of a liquid seal trap casing 29.

lExtending up into this trap casing 29 is a liquid and gas return pipe30 leading downto and connected with the water and gas leg 21, as shown.This pipe 30 serves to convey liquor from the trap casing 29 back to thestill and also serves to convey gas to theloop from whence it passes upinto the still. This pipe 30 extends to a point near the top of andestablishes a level of liquid in the liquid seal trap casing 29.Extending out of the top of this trap casing 29 is a rectifier pipebranching into two interconnected legs, generally indicated at 31,extending through the partition into the flue 17 and there rising to apoint near the top main flue and passing horizontally to the oppositeside where they are connected together in a single pipe 32 extendingupwardly to a point near the top of the cabinet. Here the pipe extendsforwardly and downwardly into a connection 33 leading to the dome 34 ofan evaporator 35 arranged in the heat dome. This evaporator has arelatively small downwardly extending heat transfer boss 36 whichconstitutes substantially the only heat transfer means between theevaporator and the freezing unit.

In order to prevent the excessive absorption of heat from the box, theevaporator may be completely heat insulated except for the boss 36 as byproviding it with an additional shell or casing 35 spaced from it andproviding a space from which the air may be exhausted, or the space maybe filled with a. heat insulating medium, the main point being tosubstantially insulate the evaporator from. and have it wholly withinthe refrigerating compartment.

The connection 33 is inclined downwardly toward the evaporator 35 andconnected in its side is a condenser pipe 3'? leading down to a sump 38connected to the bottom of a cylindrical condenser casing 39. Thiscondenser casing is sealed except for its communication with the sump38. It extends vertically and is provided with a plurality of ilues oropenings 40 for the circulation of cooling medium therethrough.

The still is preferably encased in a suitable casing 41 having a stackportion 42 leading to the auxliary flue 18 and having an opening 43 inthe b'ottom to receive the burner and also to permit the passage of airupward around the still. This casing also protects the compartment 8against excessive heat from the heating means.

Mounted upon the main frame and in the main flue 17 is a tank 44 forwater or other impounded cooling medium. It is long, thin and more orless narrow 'and extends from the lower frame to a point near the top ofthe main flue. It is pro- Videdwith a suitable bulged side, as indicatedat 45, to accommodate the condenser, as shown in Fig. 5. It may beprovided near its top, or at any suitable point, with ns 46 to the fronton each side of the bulge 45 and extending toward the outer shell 6 ofthe refrigerating compartment so that the draft of air up the back ofthe refrigerating compartment between it and the tank will have a chanceto exert its cooling effect upon the liquid in the tank. Additional fins47 may be provided near the front lower end and arranged to nest andengage with the ns 23 of the loop. This heat transfer connection betweenthe loop and lower portion of the Water tank permits heat transferbetween .these parts and during the heating period when the loop isinactive and the water becomes heated it has no effect upon the loopexcept to tend to drive out some of the ammonia gas inthe solutioncontained therein. During the refrigerating cycle, however, the lop candraw on the water tank under excessive room temperatures to assist inthe loop operation.

In order to relieve the evaporator of any undue accumulation ofabsorbent or boiler liquor, a suitable drain is employed and it isconnected by a gooseneck comprising the evaporator leg 48, Fig. 1, theupper member 49 leading out of the main flue 17 into the auxiliary flue18 and there entering the bottom of a closed casing 50 mounted upon thestraight portion of the return bend of the hairpin loop communicatingwith the still. The top of this casing is connected by a short smallpipe 51 with a downwardly extending larger pipe portion 52 leading intothe pipe 30 at substantially the point 53 slightly above butnevertheless at sucha point with respect to the normal level ofthelioiler liquor at the end of the refrigerating cycle that it will besealed at the beginning of the heating cycle and thereafter be exposedduring the refrigerating cycle.

From the foregoing description of the drain, it will be seen that as thepressure builds up in the system the gaseous medium between the seals iscompressed to the extent of the liquor in the evaporator being forcedover and down the drain toward the still. This draining will probablycontinue until the down leg of the hairpin loop becomes hot enough tovaporize or explode, so to speak, some of the liquid refrigerant flowingthrough it to the point of creating a back pressure toward theevaporator, thereby preventing further draining.

Extending down into the box and co-extensivc with the open mouth of thedome formed in the top or ceiling of the refrigerating compartment is afreezing .unit casing, generally of rectangular form and comprisingsides 54 and a suitable back 55. At the front there is an inwardlyextending margin or framework, generally indicated at 56. Thisrectangular openingis for the reception of the ice trays, as willappear. The sides, back and front extend out and are provided with anges57 engaging the under side of the top 11 of the refrigeratingcompartment. They are held in place by suitable thumb screws 58. Nearthe top, this casing is provided with suitable openings 59 for thepassage of heated air from the top of the refrigerating compartment intothe dome and at the bottom it is provided with an opening 60 adapted tobe controlled by a damper 61 provided with a lever 62 operated by thearm 63 of a lever pivoted at 64 and having an cppositely extending arm65 engaging a grooved collar 66 carried by a thermostatic bellows 67.This bellows is provided with a downwardly extending threaded shank 68provided with nuts 69 arranged on either side of a supporting bracket 70secured to the bottom of the casing. By adjustment of the nuts the motormeans may be shifted to vary the opening and closing operation of thedamper 61. In this way the circulation of air through the freezing unitcasing may be regulated.

Mounted in the casing 54 is a freezing unit shell 'l1' provided withsuitable cleats 71 for supporting cube trays 72. Ihe top of this shellcarries a brine tank 73 having a top 74 provided withy a well or socket75 adapted to nt the sump boss 36. This iit is somewhat loose and anemcient heat transfer medium between the cup on the one hand and theboss on the other is provided by water or mercury. In this way thedirect heat transfer from the evaporator to the freezing unit is limitedand is dependent upon the size of the boss and the cup., It has beenfound by experience that this is very effective for maintaining the boxat the proper temperature and renders the temperature controllable bythe simple regulation of the damper 6l.

The entire refrigerating unit is built up in one piece of apparatuswiththe pipes extending up at the rear, the loop arranged to rest uponthe base frame, and the evaporator projecting forward so as to be inproper position in the dome of the refrigerating compartment. h1practice, the refrigerating unit is tilted forward and the evaporator isadjusted in place in 'the heat dome, and thereafter the lower part ofthe'apparatus is moved to a position where the loop rests upon the baseframe.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the rectier pipes 3l may be providedwith ns77 extending down into the cooling medium `in the tank 44. This coolingmedium, at the beginning of the heating period, is at room temperature,but as the heating period progresses it gradually becomes warmer at thetop and thereby slows up the rectifying operation, a feature which is ofgreat importance.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a water pipe 78 has a horizontal portionextending across the length of the water tank under the cover 44.', isprovided with fins 79 extending into the water tank, and beyondsuch tankextends down upon the outside, as shown in Fig. l, and passeshorizontally through notches 80 in the upper edgesloi the loop ns 23.The end of the pipe is extended upwardly and merges into a drain portion8l which may lead to the sewer or any other convenient discharge. Inthis way the running water has a cooling eiect upon the fins of the loop18 and servesL to assist it in cooling the still during therefrigerating cycle. It of course cools the water tank as well.

vconnected by a'tube 85 with and under the control of a thermostaticelement 86 in the top of the cooling medium in the tank. In this way thesupply of running water may be varied in accordance with the temperaturein the upper part of the tank.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an absorption type refrigerator, a cabinet, a refrigeratingcompartment, a still-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected inoperative cycle, a at tank for impounded cooling medium lying adjacentthe rear wall of said cabinet, and a cylindrical condenser arrangedvertically in substantially the center thereof and provided with drafttubes extending up through it.

2. In an absorption type refrigerator, a cabinet, a refrigeratingcompartment, a still-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected inoperative cycle, a fiat tank for impounded cooling medium lying adjacentthe rear wall of said cabinet having a vertical channel-shaped bulge onthe one side l0() at substantially the center and extending to the top,and a cylindrical condenser in said tank nesting in said trough providedwith vertical lilies for the circulation of the cooling medium.

3. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a

cabinet, a refrigerating compartment, a still-absorber, evaporator andcondenser connected in operative cycle in said cabinet with theevaporator in the refrigerating compartment, a fiat vertical tank forimpounded cooling medium attached to the rear wall of said cabinet andhaving said condenser arranged in the lower part thereof, a pipe forconnection in the house main circuit and having a portion in effectiveheat transfer relation with the cooling medium in said tank. t

Ll. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a still-absorber, condenserand evaporator connected in operative cycle, a cooling loop for thestill connected in the circuit, a tank for impounded 12o cooling mediumfor said condenser, and air cooled metallic heat transfer iinsconnecting the outside of the tank and said loop. v

5. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a

still-absorber, condenser and evaporator connectit and said loop andcomprising a heat transfe;- 1

fin arrangement between the lower part of the tank and said loop.

6. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a cabinet having an upwardforward refrigerating chamber arranged therein and forming a lowerapparatus compartment and a rear iiue, a stillabsorber, condenser andevaporator connected in operative cycle and arranged in said cabinetwith the still in the apparatus compartment, the

the condenser at the rear and in the flue, and a thin relatively narrowhigh water tank arranged in said apparatus compartment and within saidflue for containing said condenser.

evaporator in the refrigerating compartment and L40 'i'. In absorptionrefrigerating apparatus, a 145 cabinet, a refrigerating compartment, astill-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected in opera tive cyclein said cabinet with the evaporator in the refrigerator compartment, anelongated vertical tank for impounded cooling 15P medium in saidcabinet, an elongated cylindrical condenser arranged therein, a rectierin the refrigerating circuit positioned in the uppermost portion of saidtank, the said rectifier including tubes passing over the impoundedmedium tank, and heat transfer ns connected to the rectifier tubes andextending into JLlie cooling medium in said tank.

8. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a cabinet, a refrigeratingcompartment, `a still-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected inoperative cycle in said cabinet with the evaporator in the refrigeratorcompartment, an elongated vertical tank for impounded cooling medium insaid cabinet, an elongated cylindrical condenser arranged therein, arectier in the refrigerating circuit positioned in the uppermost portionof said tank, the said rectifier including tubes passing over theimpounded medium tank, heat transfer fins connected to the said rectiertubes and extending into the cooling medium in said tank, and a coverfor said tank housing said rectier tubes and ns.

9. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a cabinet, a refrigeratingcompartment, a still-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected inoperative cycle in said cabinet with the evaporator in the refrigeratorcompartment, an elongated vertical tank for impounded cooling medium insaid cabinet, an elongated cylindrical condenser arranged therein, arectifier in the refrigerating circuit positioned in the uppermostportion of said tank, and a cold water pipe extending over said Watertank adjacent said rectifier tubes, and suitable n means extending fromsaid Water pipe into the cooling medium in said tank.

EDMUND E. AILYNE.

